For Immediate Release
Friday, September 8, 1944
Cleared and Issued Through Facilities of the Office of War Information

More than 400 Japanese Americans leave relocation centers on
indefinite leave each week to work and live in widely scattered
American towns, cities and rural communities, Dillon S. Myer, Director
of the War Relocation Authority, reported today to Acting Secretary of
the Interior Abe Fortas.

The figure for the four-week period ending August 26 was 1,717,
bringing the total number of relocated persons to 30,572, the WRA
compilation showed. About 60,100 evacuees remain in the eight
relocation centers, including most of the older persons and the very
young children.

"One of the most heartening developments in recent weeks," Mr. Myer
said, "is the growing number of Japanese Americans who are invited
by American communities to share their work opportunities. These
community invitations usually are extended through WRA relocation
officers, assigned in principal cities to the job of helping the
evacuees make their adjustment to new surroundings.

"Approximately three-fourths of the August total left the centers in
response to these community invitations. The remainder were those who
left to join family members already relocated and those who left to
accept specific job offers."

In addition to the 30,572 persons permanently relocated, 5,233
are outside the centers on seasonal leave, working in activities
such as canning, beet thinning and harvesting. Some of these workers
will return to the centers. Others will apply for and receive permanent
leave status.

The authority directs its major energies into this relocation process.

"Our number one job," Mr. Myer said, "is relocating evacuees outside
the centers, off the Government liability sheet in communities where
they can resume normal lives and make a direct contribution to victory."

WRA makes a thorough security check of each evacuee before authorizing
his departure from the center, Mr. Myer said.